Maintaining Healthy Eyes with Vitamins

The American Optometric Association recognizes these 5 vitamins as crucial to maintaining the health of your eyes:

Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc

Supplementing these vitamins is not necessary if you have a well balanced diet.

Vitamins for Patients with Macular Degeneration

Vitamins for macular degeneration have been studied and vetted by the AREDS and AREDS2 scientific studies. Our clinic recommends these vitamins for anyone who has or is at risk of macular degeneration. There are several brands of macular degeneration vitamins, all which are good. Here is a short overview of the differences between them:

PreserVisionFull ARED formula. Good for anyone, especially smokers because theres no vitamin A. Some patients prefer not to take PreserVision because you must take it four times a day to get the entire dose, but newer versions of PreserVision only have to be taken twice a day.

iCAPsSoft gels you take just 2 a day. Comes in multi-vitamin form so it can replace your current multi-vitamin. Also comes in 1x a day formula but this form does not contain the full dose and is not recommended by our clinic. Smokers should be careful not to take iCAPs that contain vitamin A.

OcuviteA popular choice because the entire dosage is in just one pill a day, but much like the 1x a day iCAPs formula, ocuvite doesn’t give you as much vitamin as is recommended by ARED study.

In our office, we frequently recommend vitamins for dry eye and macular degeneration, but not for other ocular disease. Taking vitamins is never a suitable alternative to regular visits to your medical professional and following their treatment plan.

Lysle Shaw-McMinn, O.D.

Dr. Lysle graduated from Southern California College of Optometry in 2014. His knowledge of technology and enthusiasm for pediatric and senior care has brought him to work with us in Sun City Vision Center.